The new Junior Cert religious studies syllabus is a lesson in pluralism. Olivia Kelly reports

Education must play a prominent role in bridging religious divides, according to Dr Dermot Lane, president of Mater Dei Institute, Dublin. He was speaking at a recent gathering at Mater Dei of religious leaders from the main Christian denominations and world religions to promote the new Junior Cert religious studies programme.

"The need for religious education becomes even more relevant following the events of 11th September last. We must ensure that as Irish society becomes more pluralist, the gulf between world cultures and religions is not allowed to develop here. We witness every day the damage caused by mistrust between people of different Christian traditions in Northern Ireland," Lane said.

The Junior Cert programme aims to give students knowledge and understanding of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and other world religions. It also exposes students to non-religious interpretations of life and aims to give students the skills to accept other cultures and develop attitudes of tolerance and understanding.

"It is important that young people understand and appreciate other religious cultures so they can begin to appreciate their own particular faith," Lane says.

It is also vital, he says, that they evaluate their own religion and not take it "merely as a social convention".

The course focuses on the potential of religion to bring about peace and encourages respect for those who have no religious beliefs. It also examines the importance of religion in current events and helps students to explore sources of ethics and morality in public life.

In the past, Lane said, differences of religion and belief were considered conflictual; in the new syllabus they are seen as complementary.

The programme aims to show that the exploration of religions is possible without undermining any particular ethos. Schools will be encouraged to make the programme applicable to their own ethos.

Approximately 350 schools are currently following the religious studies syllabus. The subject will be examined for the first time at Junior Certificate level in 2003.

The Department of Education and Science intends to introduce religious studies to all schools, including non-denominational schools, and to extend the programme to Leaving Certificate level as a points-carrying subject. A draft Leaving Cert syllabus has been devised, but its implementation date has yet to be finalised.

The syllabus was devised by the NCCA with the consultation of religious groups. A new e-learning programme, Logos, has been developed by Mater Dei for use in in-service training for teachers.